Ryder Cup 2012 Odds: Breaking Down Individual Prop Bets
The four major PGA Tour events are long gone this year, but that doesn't mean high-stakes, high-pressure golf is done.
The 2012 Ryder Cup tees off on Friday morning at the Medinah Country Club with foursomes and fourballs in the afternoon.
Both the United States and European teams are stacked with talent, so this could be one of the most dramatic events we have seen in a long time.
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In anticipation of the event, prop bets for various things have come out. Some of the usual suspects are at the top, but we wanted to make sure that we gave you an in-depth look at what the oddsmakers are expecting from the Ryder Cup.
Odds courtesy of Bovada
Top Combined Points Scorer
| Tiger Woods 8/1 |
| Rory McIlroy 10/1 |
| Lee Westwood 14/1 |
| Luke Donald 14/1 |
| Dustin Johnson 14/1 |
Not surprisingly, Tiger Woods is at the top of almost all of these prop bets. It speaks to how much confidence the bettors still have in him, or their unwillingness to welcome new blood.
It is awfully hard to look at this top portion of the list and not like McIlroy. He is the best player on the PGA Tour right now and is capable of putting together low scores better than anyone else and is much more consistent than Woods.
Going down the list, one player whose odds look really appealing is Bubba Watson (20/1). He did not exactly take the huge step forward after winning the Masters, but did have a strong showing at the Tour Championship last week.
Who Will Hole Winning Putt?
| Tiger Woods 12/1 |
| Bubba Watson 14/1 |
| Phil Mickelson 14/1 |
| Jason Dufner 14/1 |
| Rory McIlroy 16/1 |
Again, we get Woods at the top of the odds here. It is interesting that he would lead this category given that he hasn't been strong on the green this year.
Watson is the best putter on this list. He has shown a knack for being able to make big putts in high-stress situations, which the Ryder Cup would certainly fall into that category.
This is such a random category because there are so many things that have to fall into place before you have an understanding of who will even get a chance to putt for the winning country.
One name that just missed this list but also boasts 16/1 odds is Steve Stricker. He has long been regarded as one of the best putters on the PGA Tour. His performance has slipped a bit, but if you put him in the right situation he can easily come through in the clutch.
Top American Points Scorer
| Tiger Woods 5/1 |
| Steve Stricker 8/1 |
| Phil Mickelson 8/1 |
| Dustin Johnson 9/1 |
| Matt Kuchar 10/1 |
I find this to be the most interesting category because of the way it is structured with the stars at the top (Woods and Mickelson). Mickelson is an enigma who can be great one moment, then look like he doesn't belong on the course the next.
The smart money would be on Johnson, though I do understand the rationale behind Woods. Even though I haven't loved everything that Woods has done this season, he does have three PGA wins and nine top-10 finishes.
Johnson, though, strikes me as the kind of efficient player who can score big in all aspects of the Ryder Cup. He hits greens at a high percentage in regulation, has a good drive and is a strong enough putter.
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